Call for action on ambulance response times

There has been unanimous backing for a call for much better ambulance response times following the latest figures just released for our area.

Cllr Paul Hodgkinson (CDC, Chedworth and Churn Valley) presented the latest ambulance figures to a meeting of Cotswold District Council this week and said: “Despite all the great work of the paramedics and first responders we need to see these figures getting much better so we can all be reassured that if we fall badly ill a crew will be with us quickly.”

The figures show that Category 1 (emergencies) should take an average of 8 minutes to get to the patient. The worst two areas in Gloucestershire are Bourton Vale and Northleach - both at 22 minutes. 

Category 2 (very serious cases like strokes) should have an average target time of 18 minutes. Yet the times in our area are way over this. In Chedworth and Churn Valley and Bisley it is 1 hour, 2 minutes. In Sandywell ward it is 37 minutes and in the villages around the A417 it is 46 minutes. 

Paul added: “I asked the ambulance bosses for some answers and solutions but they acknowledged that without more resources this won't change. The new government needs to step in.”

Local Liberal Democrats are putting NHS and social care at the top of the agenda as we look to safeguard services at local hospitals like Moreton, Cheltenham and Cirencester.